PANB Leader Kris Austin stands in front of supporters in Saint John. Photo by Ben Burnett.
The People’s Alliance brought its campaign to Saint John Saturday to discuss child poverty.
Party leader Kris Austin told a group of supporters his party would work to improve the lives of children experiencing poverty in New Brunswick.
They cited three points they would focus on in the Legislature: implementing a food program at every school around the province, continue funding poverty reduction programs, and reform the New Brunswick Daycare Assistance Program.
Austin cited a statistic that showed Saint John’s child poverty rate is second-highest in the province at 31.5 per cent.
“I strongly believe in lower taxes and smaller government, but I do believe it is the responsibility of any civilized society to ensure our children, especially our most vulnerable kids and those that struggle at home, in terms of financial well-being – it’s usually the children who take the greatest hit,” Austin said.
In order to reform the Daycare Assistance Program, Austin said its important to understand how much some New Brunswickers are forced to work in order to care for their families.
“It’s a very complicated and lengthy process to get the help they need,” he said. “So we are committed to stream-lining that process, so that families that need some help with daycare assistance with their families will get it in a timely and reasonable manner.”
This was the party leader’s first trip to the port city since the writ was dropped last month.
He introduced several of the area PANB candidates, including Paul Seelye in Saint John-Lancaster, and Sara Hall in Quispamsis.
Standing at Simms Corner and looking at the Irving Pulp & Paper Mill, Austin also spoke to the importance of tax reform for municipalities.
He says New Brunswick is the only province which won’t allow municipalities to set their own tax rates.
“(Governments) set one tax rate, and everybody falls under that same tax rate – whether you’re big industry, or you’re a residential person just trying to make ends meet in the province. That, ladies and gentleman, is frankly wrong,” Austin said.
The party leader is seeking re-election in Fredericton-Grand Lake.
